Curtain-fixture



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WENDELL P. PUTNAM, OF WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS.

CURTAIN- FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,802, dated June 19, 1883.

' Application filed May 4,1883. (No model.)

'tertown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures and I declare that the same are fully described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

This invention is designed to lock together the roller and spindle of a balance curtain-fixture so that the spring which actuates them shall not lose its tension and become uncoiled when the spindle is removed from the brackets. Such a lock is operative until the roller is replaced in the brackets, when a slight down ward movement of the shade causes a disengagement of the parts and leaves the roller free to rotate either way around the stationary spindle, the locking device lying dormant.

This invention consists in a cam-shaped collar fixed radially on the spindle and a sliding double hook or bar hung thereon in such position as to embrace the spindle and permit free rotation of the roller around it when mounted for use, but to become wedged between the cam of the collar and theinterior wall of the tubular roller or its cap when the spindle is dismounted.

The peculiarities of this invention will be clear from the drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal section of the roller; Fig. 2, detached views of the locking parts; Fig. 3, a top view of the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section, showing the dormant position of the look while the roller is mounted for use; and Fig. 5, a similar view of the parts locked to gether.

The roller A and its end cap, B, revolve about the spindle 0, increasing or decreasing the tension of the spring D, arranged as is usual in balance-fixtures. A radial flange or collar is formed on the spindle, within the roller end, the upper edge of such collar forming a cam,

,F, with a surface gradually approaching the walls of the spring-chamber. A bent bar or hook, H, is hung upon this camsnrface so as to pass around beneath the spindle with space sufficient to permit a movement of the hook fromits dormant position to that where it engages with both the cam and the inner wall of the roller or cap and locks the spindle and roller together. This movement occurs when the spindle flies on being released from the bracket which had prevented its rotation, and it arises from the inertia of the hook at the instant the spindle starts to rotate, the rotary impulse of the spindle and cam serving to lift the hook into engagement with the cam and roller, as shown in Fig. 5. The ends of the hook extend down far enough below the camsurface so as not to disengage from it while within the spring-chamber. A projection, G, formed adjacent to the cam keeps the hook from sliding down into contact with the roller in its mounted position, as shown in Fig. 4. Another projection, G, might serve the same purpose.

I claim as my invention As a locking device for spring curtain-rollers the spindle O and cam F, with projection G, in combination with a sliding hook mounted thereon embracing the spindle and adapted to engage with said cam and roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereto affiX my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

WENDELL P. P'UTNAM. Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, C. G. KEYES. 

